Pilocarpine is a muscarinic cholinergic agonist that is used as an eye drop for elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma as well as orally for the symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) that occurs in Sjogren’s syndrome and with radiotherapy in those with head and neck cancer. The side effects that occur tend to be common, so it is often not used over the long term.
Pilocarpine works by activating cholinergic receptors of the muscarinic type which cause the aqueous humor to drain from the eye (eye drops) and stimulates the secretion of large amounts of saliva and sweat (orally). It may stimulate the sweat, salivary, lacrimal, gastric, pancreatic, intestinal glands and the mucous cells of the respiratory tract.
The more common side effects of the eye drops include irritation of the eye, headache, and blurry vision. The more common effects of the oral solution are sweating, nausea, a runny nose, chills, flushing, frequent need to urinate, a dizziness, cough, diarrhea, blurred vision and muscle and joint aches.
Trade names: Isopto Carpine (Alcon), Salagen (MGI Pharma), Diocarpine (Dioptic), Timpilo (Merck Frosst)
Chemical Formula: C11H16N2O2
Other Cholinergic agonists:
| Choline Esters: | Alkaloids: |
| Acetylcholine | Muscarine |
| Methacholine | Pilocarpine |
| Carbachol | |
| Bethanechol |
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